'Divided People'

[nrt]

I've had this stewing in my head for ages, I want it to be a song, but it still seems a bit clumsy...

Divided People
NRT

Divided people are easy to control;
You can create the truth
So you make up a poll about
How many scroungers are abusing the dole
Go buy a new yacht with their wealth you stole.

Divided people are so easy to lead;
Sell both sides some weapons,
Talk peace, while they bleed,
Pretend you’re offended by the hate you breed
Send a small donation to Children In Need.

All this comes from ‘the few’
The dividing force from behind the curtain
They try to hide what’s true
Break through the fog and you’ll see it’s certain

Divided people just love to hate;
So emphasise those differences,
Sit back and wait,
First a march, soon a protest, then without a debate;
They’ll be bayonetting babies of the wrong race or state.

Divided people are so easy to fool,
Because you never follow the Golden Rule
What they teach first in your fancy school is;
Keeping us divided that’s your strongest tool.

All this comes from ‘the few’
The dividing force from behind the curtain
And none of this is new
But It’s getting worse and of that I’m certain


Unite divided people
No one’s above, or under, me and you
Unite divided people
It’s the most important thing that we can do.

Unite divided people
Don’t fall for all the crap they’re feeding you
Unite divided people
It’s the most important thing that we can do.

BTW - the Dole is UK slang for unemployment benefit - and one UK executive did go and buy a new yacht shortly after selling a major UK retailer for £1 so he could avoid having to resolve the massive employee pension deficit that he had built up in it

[jeannerené]

... the subject is great and of course so timely. We could use some songs of the times like we had in the 60's and 70's.

Now I do not know a thing about lyrics, but yes it is a bit wordy and I think that is simply because there might be a unneeded words which could be eliminated and not not change the meaning of the phrase or verse.

Example:

All this comes from ‘the few’
The dividing force from behind the curtain
And none of this is new
But It’s getting worse and of that I’m certain

Perhaps:

All this comes from 'the few'
The dividing force behind the curtain
None of this is new
But it's getting worse of that I'm certain

That is just one thought which might make the flow a little smoother.

Jeanne

[nrt]

Thanks,

When I started on this it was exactly that - to write a 'protest' song just like the ones from the 60s...

I'll have a go at parring it down - I have a blues riff that sort of fits to the first part of it. I sing and play in a band these days, but have never been a musician so just do the percussion - though I have always sung.

I'll keep you posted!

[jeannerené]

That is immediately what I thought of .... the protest songs of the past. Those songs still live on today.

Looking forward to your updates.

You know there is a plugin offered by ProBoards, well actually a couple, that allows audio postings. I will look in to those plugins. If you eventually have an audio recording made then you can post it.

I can't carry a tune worth a hoot or a holler so you all won't be hearing me sing.

[rocha]

nice message nrt. "For what it's worth" is my favorite protest song Buffalo Springfield way back when...